 Lahore, often
referred to as the
cultural capital of
Pakistan, is also
the capital of the
province of the
Punjab—the land of
five rivers. The
province, irrigated
by the rivers Indus,
Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi
and Sutlej
encompasses the most
fertile lands in the
country, resulting
in verdant fields
and rich harvests.
It is also a land of
contrasts ranging
from its alluvial
plains to the sandy
desert of Cholistan
and from the dense
pine forests of the
Himalayas' foot
hills to the Potowar
Plateau.
Lahore is the second
largest metropolis
of Pakistan, and
like all large urban
centres, presents
the visitor with a
variety of scenes
and experiences.
Through many
centuries, this city
has absorbed and
integrated many
cultures that were
brought in the wake
of the invasions
from the northwest.
You will find here
an exciting mix of
old and new—the
bustling old bazaars
situated in the
centuries-old Walled
City, and modern
shopping centres in
the contemporary
planned areas such
as Gulberg, where
wide boulevards
beckon you to a new
world. The narrow
winding streets are
lined with historic
buildings, not only
in the Walled City
but in the downtown
as well. Apart from
the impressive
Mughal
edifices—along with
the magnificent
citadel, one of two
citadels to boast of
contributions of the
four Great Mughals—you
will also find a
kaleidoscope of
British-period
buildings,
representing
stylistic variations
from Indo-Gothic to
Anglo-Mughal style.
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